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  • Affairs
  • 04 Nov 2026

Explainer 542: Why has China shown Kylian Mbappé a red card?

Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images

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  • The Foreign Desk
  • Affairs

An offhand remark about Mao Zedong has landed Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappé in hot water with Beijing. Why has China taken offence so readily and what does it gain from doing so?

Host
  • Andrew Mueller
Producers
  • Anita Riotta
  • Lily Austin

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